Marwa credits drug bust successes to reforms and advocates for more
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Chairman Buba Marwa has credited the growing success in the fight against illicit drugs to reforms in the agency which have led to the arrest of drug lords and the dismantling of cartels.
“Revamping NDLEA became imperative in light of the disturbing findings of the National Drug Use and Health Survey conducted in 2018 which indicated that Nigeria’s drug use prevalence at 14.4% was way above the global threshold of 5.6%.
“In the past 21 months, NDLEA has been undergoing a reform process which has resulted in tectonic changes in the Agency’s administration, structure and operations,” he said.
“Consequently, NDLEA’s turbo-charged performance in the areas of arrests, prosecutions, convictions and seizures is the result of reforms.”
Marwa was speaking in Abuja at the 14th Biennial International Conference on Drugs, Alcohol, and Society in Africa with the theme, “Towards the Reform of Drug Law and Policy in Africa: Research, Practice and Advocacy Consideration”.
The conference was organised by the Centre for Research and Information on Substance Abuse (CRISA).
He said the reforms cover the activities of the NDLEA, its Act, and other related laws – and the reforms, individually and collectively, have given the agency a dynamic drug control framework which includes prevention and treatment.
He stressed the need to reform all drug laws, including policies and their implementation, saying until recently drug law enforcement was tied to outdated legislation which could not tackle the menace.
“Change, as the saying goes, is inevitable. The past decades have brought fresh thinking concerning substance abuse.
“Around the world, there has been a gradual and systematic shift in drug control perspectives leading to an overhaul of old laws and policies which are replaced with new ones that reflect the contemporary understanding of illicit substances from law enforcement, socioeconomic and health standpoints.”
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Cascading effect
“The new National Drug Control Master Plan, NDCMP 2021-2025, for instance, identifies drug use disorder as a public health issue with a strong emphasis on treatment,” Marwa added, per The Guardian.
“There has been a cascading effect. Today, we have a 24/7 toll-free Drug Abuse call centre even as the Agency continues to broaden accessibility to treatment with plans underway to build the first of six regional model rehabilitation centres.
“Along this line, the NDLEA is also working to scale up the capacity of its officers involved in drug demand reduction activities.
“For instance, in 2021, NDLEA adopted a new Standard Policy and Practice Guidelines (SPPG) manual for its counsellors and healthcare providers across the country.
“The SPPG, developed with the aid of UNODC and sponsored by the European Union, is an all-encompassing document for people who are managing people who use drugs.
“A significant reform on the subject matter of the use and abuse of drugs is the new Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) Act 2022, which was passed into law in September.
“The new law will help to curb the abuse of pharmaceutical drugs and also bring control to activities within the pharmacy profession.
“Similarly, the law establishing the NDLEA is going through amendment, having been reviewed by all relevant stakeholders who contributed and agreed on vital areas.”
Marwa expressed confidence the NDLEA Act Amendment Bill would be passed by the National Assembly (NASS), adding that drug policies are also undergoing review.
“Those who have been following drug policy trends in the country can easily discern a gradual shift in our society’s approach to illicit drug issues.
“We have also embarked on large-scale advocacy as epitomised by the NDLEA’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign launched in 2021.”
Emphasis on progressives drug policies
CRISA Executive Director Isidore Obot, a Professor, said developments in various countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa, show policymakers and citizens are embracing progressive drug policies that consider scientific evidence and the human rights of drug users
He explained the theme of the conference was chosen to highlight the growing demand for drug policy reform across the world which focuses on access to evidence-based treatment, early interventions, and harm reduction, among others.
“I believe that we have made advances in the state of knowledge about the drug problems in a growing number of countries in Africa,” Obot added.
“With the high level of concern shown by some governments, and the involvement of ECOWAS and the African Union, we are better positioned now than we were a few years ago to address more effectively the supply and demand challenges that face policymakers in a growing number of our countries.”
